Trolley.



C. H- BIERBAUM.

TROLLEY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY13, 1901.

Patented Apr. 4,1911.

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G. H. BIBRBAUM.

TBOLLEY. APPLIOATION FILED Mule, 1007.

988,754. Patented Apr. 4,1911.

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Y tral opening CHRISTOPHER H. BIERBAUM, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TROLLEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed May 13, 1907. I Serial No. 373,233.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER H. BIER- BAUM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trolleys, of whichthe following is a s ecification.

This invention re ates to a trolley wheel and harp and has the object toso construct these parts as to secure the maximum strength and wearingcapacity, better conductivity for the electric current and greaterfacility for applying the wheel to or removing the same from the harpwhen necessary.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved trolley wheel and harp. Fig. 2 is a top planviewthereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section inline 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross section in line l4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa cross section in line 5-5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinalsection taken centrally through the trolley wheel and harp. Fig. 7 is ahorizontal longitudinal section in line 7-7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is afragmentary cross section in line 8-8, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a cross sectionof the wheel detached from the harp, the section being taken 10 is adetached plan View of .wheel.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

In its general organization the trolley wheel comprises a hub A, a pairof disks, B, B mounted on the hub and a bearing or tread ring C arrangedbetween the disks.

The hub is constructed from a single piece of metal preferably of ironor steel, so as to form a central enlarged cylindrical body a. andreduced cylindrical trunnions a a at opposite ends of the body. In theouter end of each trunnion a countersunk recess or opening (Z is formedwhich receives a contact piece consisting of a headed copper rivet d ofcorresponding form, the function of which will be described later.

Each of the disks is provided with a cenwhich receives the body of thehub. The central parts or webs Z) of these disks are dished or bulgedoutwardly and bear with the bore of their openings against the peripheryof the hub body at opposite ends thereof. The outer parts or flanges bof the disks diverge forming annular seats the hub of the at rightangles to Fig. 6. Fig.-

or shoulders 0 between them against which the bore of the bearing ringrests. The disks are held on the hub and'against opposite sides of thebearing ring by means of annular flanges e arranged on the marginalportion of the hub at opposite ends thereof and bearing against theouter side of the disks, at the inner edges thereof, as shown in Fig. 7.The stock or material forming these flanges is formed originally on theends of the hub body so that they project therefrom in the direction ofits axis and are flush with the periphery of the body as shown in Fig.9, thereby permitting the disks to be slid over these flanges onto thehub and into engagement with the bearing ring. After the parts have beenthus assembled, the flanges e are upset or turned outwardly against theouter side of the disks at the inner edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 7,by spinning, swaging or otherwise displacing the metal of the flangesfor this purpose. By this means the hub, disks and bearing ring arefirmly securedtogether without the use of screws, rivets, screw jointsor the like which are liable to become loose, wear rapidly and shortenthe life of the wheel accordingly. The flanges e on the hub are turnedoutwardly against the disk to such an extent as to leave practicallysquare shoulders f at opposite ends of the hub body as shown in Fig. 7.

In practice the hub and bearing are preferably cast or drop forged ofsteel or iron and the disks stamped out of sheet steel or other metalbut these parts may be otherwise constructed if desired.

In order to produce a good electric connection between the bearing ringandthe hub the following means are provided: Gr represents atransmitting wire which is connected with the hub and at one or both ofits ends with the bearing ring. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 this wire isarranged diametrically relatively to the wheel and passes with itscentral part through a diametrical opening 9 in the central part of thehub body while each of its ends is arranged between a pair of lips orlugs h on the inner side or bore of the bearing ring. The transmittingwire is soldered in the opening of the hub and to permit of performingthis operation readily and reliably the hub is provided on its peripheryaround each end of the opening 9 with an annular groove i the adjacentouter end of the opening 9. 1

By this means only a thin wall or edge of metal is leftaround the wire Gat opposite ends of the opening which permits this metal to be readilyheated by a soldering iron or otherwise when said wire is to be solderedto the. hub. The ends of the wire are secured to the bearing] ring bypressing each pair of the lugs 71 against opposite sides of the adjacentend of the wire, as

shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and also soldering the lu s and wire together.By this means a perfect electric contact or connection is producedbetween the bearing ring and hub which conducts the current with theleast amount of resistance and without relying on the disks to carry anypart of the current.

In assembling the wheel the hub and bearing ring are first connected bythe transmitting wire and then the disks are secured to the bearing ringand hub in the manner described.

The harp J whereby the trolley wheel is supported on the trolley pole jis preferably constructed as follows: K represents the socket of theharp which receives the reduced stem j at the upper end of the pole andwhich may be constructed in one piece but which for convenience ofmanufacture is preferably divided into two sections Z2, 70

which are secured to opposite sides of the pole. The preferred means forthus connecting the socket sections and the trolley pole consists of atransverse rod or bolt Z passing through coinciding openings in thesocket section andpole stem, and screw nuts Z applied to opposite endsof the bolt and bearing against the outer sides of the socket sections,as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Projecting forwardly from the socketsections, respectively and arranged on opposite sides of' the trolleywheel are the two horns or arms M forming the fork of the harp. Each ofthese arms is provided at its front end with a transverse cylindricalbearing socket m which is open at its inner and outer ends and alsoprovided with a. longitudinal slit m on its front side. lVithin. eachbearing socket is arranged a cylindrical bearing bushing N which bearsat its inner end against the adjacent shoulder f of the wheel hub and inwhich is journaled one of the trunnions or ends of the wheel hub oraxle. The width of the slits m of the sockets m is equal to the diameterof the trunnions. By this means the trolley wheel may be removed fromthe harp by first withdrawingthe bushings axially outward from thetrunnions and sockets and then the trunnions may be passed forwardlythrough the slits m of the sockets. These parts are as sembled reverselyof the order just described.

- In order to hold the bushings securely in their sockets each of thelatter has the parts to on opposite sides of its slit connected by aclamping device which preferably consists of bifurcated lugs 0, 0 proecting laterally from each of sald bearing sockets above and below itsslit, a cylindrical rotatable rod or screw nut 79 journaled at oppositeends in correspondingly shaped openings formed in the members of thelower bifurcated lug, and a clamping bolt P arranged between the membersof both bifurcated lugs and engaging its lower threaded end with therotatable screw nut while the head at its upper end bears against theupper bifurcated lug. Upon tightening the clamping screws the bearingsockets are contracted causing the bushings to be gripped or clamped inthe same. Upon loosening the clamping bolts the bearing sockets arepermitted to relax their grip on the bushings enabling the latter to'beremoved axially from the bearing sockets and trunnions. Upon swingingthe clamping bolts out of engagement from the upper lugs of the bearingsockets the trunnions of the wheel'may be moved forwardly through theslits of said sockets. By this means the wheel or the bushings may bereadily and conveniently renewed or repaired when necessary.

In trolley wheels as heretofore constructed the wheel usually turned ona transverse pin or axle secured to the harp which pin or axle was ofcomparatively large diameter. In the present construction the trunnionswhich are fixed on the wheel and turn in bearings on the harp are ofsmaller diameter but together the same furnish a larger bearing surfacethan that between the former wheel and axle, thereby rendering the samemore durable.

Lengthwise on the outer side of each harp arm is arranged a spring brushQ of leaf form which is secured at-its rear end to the respective armwhile its front end bears against the copper rivet or contact piece atthe outer end of the corresponding trunnion, thereby forming a goodelectrical connection between the wheel hub and harp. In order toconfine the path of the electric current to said brushes the bushingsare insulated from the harp arms by interposing a sheet of rice paper 9or other insulating material between each bushing and its sockets. Byengaging the brushes with the outer ends of the wheel hub in the mannerdescribed the friction between the movable and stationary parts isreduced to a minimum being at the center of rotation while at the sametime a'good frictional contact is produced for reliably carrying thecurrent'from the wheel to the harp. Each of the contact brushesispreferably bent into substantially Z form 'topermit the same to followthe contour of the-ad jacent part of the harp, the front part of thebrush bearing against the end of a trunnion being arranged outermost,the rear part seass-#54 cured to theharp arm being innermost andparallel with the front part and the intermediate part being at rightangles to the front and rear parts and arranged along the rear side ofthe adjacent bearing socket. The brushes are sufficiently elastic topermit thesanie to be deflected for clearing the path of the bushingsupon inserting the same into the bearing sockets or removing the sametherefrom. In order however to cause the brushes to bear firmly againstthe ends of the trunnions and guard against the possibility ofthebru'shes being deflected unduly and set, each of these brushes isheld in its operative position by a transverse removable retaining pin rbearing with its central part against the outer side of the rear part ofthe respectivebrush. These pins pass at opposite ends through openingsformed in ribs or flanges R which are arranged lengthwise on thehorizontally opposite sides of the adjacent part of the harp, as shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 7. The flanges preferably extend along the polesocket, arms, and bearing sockets of the harp and are higher than theadjacent parts on the outer side of the harp so as to protect the samefrom injury. The several ribs together are constructed to form asubstantially forwardly enlarging wedge whereby the same are preventedfrom becoming i caught on the cross wires which support the trolley wireor other obstruction.

On its vertically opposite sides the front part of the harp is providedwith inclined guards S which diverge or lead at an angle from the polesocket toward the periphery of the wheel and serve to guide the wheelpast any obstruction which it may encounter, thereby preventing thewheel from striking such an obstruction squarely and causing in jury. Byproviding such guards on the top and bottom of the harp the wheel willbe protected upon using the trolley wheel with either side of the harpfacing upwardly.

To facilitate engagement of the trolley wheel with the trolley wire andprevent the same from striking abrupt shoulders on the harp the latteris provided on opposite sides of the wheel with guide lugs t which arearranged on the harp arms and extend radially from the bearing socketstoward the periphcry of the wheel and have their outer edges inclined,as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

I claim as my invention:

1. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a bearing ring, two disks arrangedon said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring, and displacedportions on the hub engaging with said disks for holding the same inplace, said hub being provided at opposite ends with journals which areformed integrally therewith, substantially as set forth.

2. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a

' bearing ring, two disks arranged on said hub and engaging withopposite sides of the ring,

and outwardly turned annular flanges formed on said hub and engagingwith the outer sidrs of said disks, said hub being provided at oppositeends with journals which are formed integrally therewith, substantiallyas set forth.

8. A trolley wheel comprising a hub provided at opposite ends withintegral journals, a one-piece bearing ring separate from said hub, twodisks arranged on said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring,and a transmitting wire connecting said ring with the hub, independentlyof the other mechanical connections between the ring and hub,substantially as set forth.

4. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a bearing ring, two disks arrangedon said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring, and adiametrical transmitting wire independent of the other mechanicalconnections between the ring and hub, connected centrally with said huband connected at opposite ends with said ring.

5. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a bearing ring, two disks arrangedon said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring, a transmittingwire independent of the other mechanical connections between the ringand hub, connected with said hub, and a lug on the inner side of saidring to which said. wire is secured, substantially as set forth.

6. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a bearing ring, two disks arrangedon said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring, a transmittingwire independent of other mechanical connections between the ring andhub, connected with said hub, and a pair of lugs arranged on the innerside of said ring and adapted to receive the end of said wire betweenthem, substantially as set forth.

7. A trolley wheel comprising a hub, a bearing ring, two disks arrangedon said hub and engaging with opposite sides of the ring, a.transmitting wire independent of other mechanical connections betweenthe ring and hub, connected with said hub, and a pair of lugs which arearranged on said ring and between which the'end of said wire is adaptedto be pressed and soldered, substantially as set forth.

8. A trolley wheel comprising a hub having an opening and a recess adacent to the opening, a bearing ring, disks arranged on said hub andengaging opposite sides of said ring, and a transmitting wireindependent of other mechanical connections between the ring and hubconnected with said ring and secured in the opening of the hub bysoldering, substantially as set forth.

9. A trolley wheel comprising a hub having an opening through the same,a bearing ring, two disks arranged on sald hub and engaging oppositesides of the ring, and a transmitting wire independent of other ends tosaid rin mechanical connections between the ring and hub, extendingthrough said opening and secured at opposite ends to said ring,substantially as set forth. a

10. A trolley wheel comprising a hub having an opening through the sameand a recess or groove around said opening so asto leave a thin wallbetween said opening and groove, a bearing ring, two disks arranged onsaid hub and engaging opposite sides of the ring, and a transmittingwire independent of other mechanical connections between the ring andhub, soldered with its central partin said opening and secured atopposite substantially as set forth. 11. The combination of a trolleywheel having trunnions on its opposite sides, bushings in which saidtrunnions are journaled, a trolley harp having bearing sockets each ofwhich is open at both ends and adapted to receive one of said. bushingsendwise and has a longitudinal slit through which the respectivetrunnion may be moved laterally and clamping devices for connecting theparts of each bearing socket on opposite sides of its slit,substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of a trolley wheel having trunnions on its oppositesides, bushings in which said trunnions are journaled, a trolley harphaving bearing sockets each of which is open at both'ends and adapted toreceive one of said bushings endwise and has a longitudinal slit throughwhich the respective trunnion may be moved laterally and clampingdevices for connecting the parts of each bearing socket on oppositesides of its slit each consisting of bifurcated lugs arranged on thebearing socket above and below its slit, a rotary screw nut journaled onthe members of one ofsaid lugs, and a bolt arranged between the membersof both of said lugs and engaging its threaded end with said nut whileits head engages with the other lug, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a trolley wheel having trunnions on its oppositesides, a trolley harp having bearings in which said trunnions arejournaled, contact pieces arranged in recesses in the ends of thetrunnions and rotating with the latter, and

spring brushes secured to the harp and pressing axially against saidcontact pieces but disconnected from the latter, substantially as setforth.

14. The combination of a trolley Wheel having trunnions on its oppositesides, a trolley harp having bearings in which said trunnions arejournaled, spring brushes secured to said harp and bearing axiallyagainst the ends of said trunnions, and retaining pins arranged on theharp and engaging with the outer sides of said springs, substantially asset forth.

15. The combination of a trolley wheel having trunnions on its oppositesides, bushings in which said trunnions are journaled, a trolley harphaving bearing sockets each of which is open at both ends and adapted toreceive one of said bushings endwise and has a longitudinal slit throughwhich the respective trunnion may be moved laterally, spring brushessecured to said harp and bearing axially against the ends of saidtrunnions, ribs or flanges arranged on the harp on opposite sides ofeach brush, and retaining pins each engaging with the outer side of oneof said brushes and passing at its ends through openings in the adjacentribs, substant-iallyas set forth.

Witness my hand this 9th day of May, 1907.

CHRISTOPHER H. BIERBAUM.

Witnesses:

Tnno. L. PoPP, E. M. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

